The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-02-02
PHILOMATHEAN CELEBRATION.
Coutjuucd from I'TrSt Ifuye.

fnSed into one and never would have become
worldwide; the Saxon was, ana must ever
have remained provincial language; hut
the Englsh-and it is not SaXon--i is Il world
language That the language has Il great
deal to do with literature, no one can deny.
He who has to forge his thoughts and then in
Vent a language to express them has Il double
task. He must make one word stand for
much. Now the language was ready,
combining the ruggcdn">S "i the Norm WIN
the mild beauty of the south, and only need
ed men to use il, and they came IN due season.
And. too, let us notice what influence III an
other way it has on the literature inry
brought education and refinement into l'rlt-
ain. William "iilcd the biShopricS anu abba
cics of England with the most learned OF his
countrylnen, who had been educated At l;lriS,
the most fouriShng university in Europe at
that time" All the mobiles sent their children
10 Paris to have them educated. 1T elevated
and refined the whole English MIND. Be
tween the Conquest and johns reign tne NOT.
mans established five hundred and fity-Seyrn
schools. An impetus 10 learning was mus
given and oxford and Cambridge were cStab,
lished There was IerotM,"n dnJ ~ spi,' n aIIe III.
lion to the hall, and chimncyS and windows
We're put to houses. Just let ono Slop Il
moment and think what tremendous lnllu-
ence these reforms had in forming the Eng
lish minds. Just think what an Influence
these men must have had in moulding the
character of the English nation. occupying
the highest positions in beth church and
state-the two grand departments of the Eng
lish government All this is due to the Nor
mans. ~
Next, We wish TO notice something that may
have escaped the sharp eyes OF our opp,ncht. I.
Some little things, and which seemed acci-
dental hut shows that greater Hand was
controlling events. wind rhanScu inc %I avS,
tiny of the now mighty British Empire ana
blew il around just as it turns the Nhne on Inc
hnusetopS. Hear what the Angio-SaNon ms
1oran, Turner, says: an great rcNoiullon
much is effected 10y active talents; but per-
haps more by that arrangement of events
over which man has no control ii was " H.
iiam'S intention to have sailed month soon
or than he appeared. II his wishes ha" hcch
1Wnrway.SI WN,n. fate" ~ but Providence
had ordained that n new dynasty should give
new manners, new connections, and new for
tunes to the English nation. Events were.
therefore, so made 10 follow, that all the tai
cntS of Harold, and the force of England.
should not avail against the vicisSitudcs in
tended. While HnroldS fleet watched the
ocean, the adverse wind kept William in port.
This fleet was dispersed by its stores falling,
and at the same time the invasion of the King
of Norway compelled larold to leave his
cCaS, ung,iardcd. and TO hurry his soldiers 10
the North OF the Island. In this critical in
tcrval while Harold was so occupied by land,
and before his fleet had got rcvirtu,llrd. the
winds became auspiciouS to William, ana ne
landed in safety. Harold had in the mean
time conquered the NorwcgianS, but tins very
event which seemed to insure the fate of Will
liam became his safety, for Harold rushed on
10 meet him before he was fully prepared.
But twas ordained by the supreme
Director of events, that England should no
longer remain insulated from the rest Of Eu-
Improvement of mankind, become connect
ed with the affairs of the continent
The Anglo Saxon dynasty was Therefore
terminated; and n sovereign with great con-
1inental possessions was led to the English
throne. BY the consequences of this revou-
tion. England acquired that interest and cs-
taLlished that influence in the transac-
tions and fortunes of its neghhorS, which
IN m
advantages to its inhabitants and to Europe
This then was the starting of the inter
course between England and the Cont
nent. which developed Itself into commerce
that life. that breath of nations, which pre-
serves and strengthens them, and when this
is cut off, they die; stagnation OF trade IS the
Where is Venice? Where are her merchant.
men, and laden ships? They left her and
her glory departed. They were her glory.
No more do her ports swarm with men
glory? Her commerce. Her shame, that
it fled, and left her deSoIAtc. Eng!and's
;nerrf1!iTtineh are more powerful lLan her
men Of war; They preserve her liberty more
tablished English institutions where English
swords never could have accomplished 1t.
Commerce has in nj ages been the most form
idab!e antagonist OF war IN thc SmoNe-plpe
of every steamer which brings the merchan-
disc Of Britain 10 our ports we sec calumet
Of peace which war-chiefs dare not eXiin-
guish." Take Englands commerce away,
and what will you have?-A little island shut
out from everybody. Bat now the world Is
EnglandS market. The affirmative side may
say that this comes from the Saxon side OF
our house But that deny True 1t IS thai
the Saxons were a rowing people, and loved
conquest. They loved Il battle for the spolS.
Theirs, rapine and plunaer, were the lowest
motives that prompt men to war. They de.
stroyed everything they could l1y their hands
on. They were hut prate*-fcarlcss. active
and successful. They launched their boats
upon the ocean when II was boil II rage,
and let the winds and waves drive them TO
whatever shore they might. The storm was a
protection to them. They lcapcd ashore,
sword in hand, and few there were that could
stand AGAINST their heavy strokes. They were
proud of their lineage, OF their large bodies,
and so anxious were they TO preserve these
distinctive features thnt they were avcrse To
marriage with other nations. Hence they
did not haYe any communication with the
continent till after the conquest by the Nor
mans. When they took country they drove
everything before them. They lived Just as
their fathers lived centuries before. They re-
ceived no Improvement because they would
suffer no outside influence to come In and re-
fine them. until It was forced upon them by
the Norman sword. How do we know all
this that we have been saying? We have the
facts from history Says Green: commerce
and trade were promoted by the justice and
policy OF the foreign kings; and with their
advance rose The political importance OF the
trader" And again in substance he says
there was sudden outburSt of industrial cf-
fort, q sudden expansion of commerce and ac-
QUESTION Of wealth.
The next thing we notice is the Fact that
they conquered the SuXons anu held them
conquered.
There are two great forces ever at work in
the history of the wor!d-niight ard right
Conquest never went by brute force: q battle
swift, nor the battle to tie strong Place
right behind man, and
"Into the jaws Of Death,'